The RTX 5090 graphics card market is experiencing significant shifts as manufacturers race against time to stockpile inventory before potential tariff increases, while consumers finally see relief from the inflated pricing that plagued the card's initial launch.
Manufacturers Accelerate Production Before July Deadline
NVIDIA's add-in-board partners, including major manufacturers Gigabyte and MSI, are dramatically scaling up RTX 5090 production to beat the July 9th tariff deadline set by the current administration. This strategic move aims to maximize profit margins by importing as many units as possible before potential trade policy changes take effect. MSI Chairman Joseph Hsu confirmed that the company has been actively building inventory in the United States following recent tariff relaxations, positioning themselves to meet market demand while protecting against future policy uncertainties.
Strategic Stockpiling Raises Market Concerns
The current production rush mirrors similar patterns observed during previous trade negotiations, where GPU manufacturers imported units at unprecedented rates. Industry observers note that while this stockpiling could potentially improve availability, manufacturers may strategically withhold inventory until after the deadline passes. This approach would allow companies to justify higher prices if trade agreements fail to materialize, potentially passing increased costs directly to consumers despite having secured lower-cost inventory beforehand.
Pricing Finally Drops Below MSRP
In a positive development for consumers, the RTX 5090 is now available below its manufacturer's suggested retail price at select retailers. SCAN's official website currently lists the Zotac NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 SOLID 32GB for GBP £1,874.99, down from GBP £1,928.99, representing a GBP £54 discount that brings the price below the GBP £1,889 MSRP for the Founders Edition. This marks a significant improvement from the card's launch period, when scalpers were selling units on secondary markets for over USD $6,000, far exceeding the official pricing.
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| Recent pricing improvements on the RTX 5090 graphics card are highlighted as it becomes available below MSRP |
Market Recovery Shows Promise
Additional RTX 5090 models are becoming available at more reasonable prices, with the MSI RTX 5090 Ventus 3X OC and Palit RTX 5090 Gamerock ARGB listed at GBP £1,939.99, while the Zotac RTX 5090 SOLID OC is priced at GBP £1,969.99. Although these prices remain slightly above MSRP, they represent a substantial improvement over the inflated costs that frustrated PC enthusiasts during the initial launch shortage. The RTX 5090 features impressive specifications including 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM and 21,760 CUDA cores, making it the most powerful gaming GPU currently available for 4K gaming applications.
Uncertain Future for GPU Pricing
The intersection of geopolitical trade policies and consumer electronics pricing continues to create market volatility. While current stockpiling efforts may temporarily improve availability, the long-term pricing impact remains unclear. Consumers interested in upgrading their systems may benefit from acting quickly, as current pricing advantages could shift dramatically depending on how trade negotiations unfold after the July deadline.